Video with Techniques for Effective Patient Self-Management

August 6, 2006

This is archived content; for historical reference only.

As much as 90% of the care needed to manage a chronic disease must come directly from the patient. These important self-management interventions, such as self-monitoring and healthy lifestyle changes, lead not only to improved health, but also to increased patient satisfaction and reductions in hospital and emergency room costs.

From physicians to nursing assistants, health care providers play a critical role in supporting patient self-management. However, this can be difficult for primary care practices, particularly if providers are unfamiliar with behavior change strategies. Patient self-management also fundamentally challenges the traditional authority of providers and transforms the patient-provider relationship into a collaborative partnership.

To support health care providers in promoting patient self-management, CHCF has produced a short training video called “Techniques for Effective Patient Self-Management.” The 33-minute presentation provides strategies and tools that busy clinicians can use to help patients adopt healthy behaviors.

Featured techniques are based on the principles of motivational interviewing and provide a sampling of how to effectively support patients. While this may seem challenging at first, providers can implement the techniques step by step to begin engaging patients.

Highlights include how to:

Engage the patient and understand why behavior change might or might not be perceived as worthwhile from the patient’s perspective

Explore and enhance the importance of making healthy behavior changes

Engage in collaborative action planning to support the patient’s efforts in making a concrete, personally meaningful, and achievable plan for change

The material is presented by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDE, of the University of California, San Diego.

A brief trailer and the complete video are available for streaming and downloading below. Up to 10 DVDs may be ordered through the mail by contacting Paula Ginsborg. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.